By Amy Batista, Special Writer
A local server at 12 Farms Restaurant found himself starring in a different role earlier this month — serving up nighttime TV drama.
12 Farms hosted a premiere party on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. to celebrate Patrick Byas, of Hamilton, starring in “The Blacklist” episode on Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. and “Blue Bloods” episode on Oct. 2 at 10 p.m.
“Patrick is such a positive person and often encourages me when I’m feeling like my creative career is spinning its wheels a bit,” said 12 Farms co-owner Barbara DiLorenzo. “He is amazing. We all love how down to earth and sweet he is with friends, co-workers and customers.”
Ms. DiLorenzo said 12 Farms is proud to have him.“His easy smile and care for customers makes him a wonderful addition to the 12 Farms family but his time at 12 Farms is most likely limited. A theatre arts graduate from Rutgers University, Patrick is a rising star in the acting world,” she said. “We will hold him to his promise to come back and work an occasional shift in between making blockbuster movies. Stop in and get his autograph while you can.”
Mr. Byas said the premiere party was awesome.
“Barbara and Rennie (DiLorenzo) are some of the best people that anyone can meet,” he said about the co-owners of the restaurant at 120 North Main Street.
He said it was cool to see Mr. DiLorenzo cooking and having a blast, especially because he was in a car accident a few days before the party.
“I really appreciate him for doing that with all the pain he went through,” Mr. Byas said. “Barbara was also so cool for drawing a picture of me on the big 12 Farms chalkboard. When I walked in and saw that, I was like wow.”
He said his cousin Octavious Wilder, who also works there, invited friends and mapped out how the party was going to go.
“I love him for that and for always being real with me,” he said. “It was nice to see some friends from Hightstown there and for everyone who took their personal time out to come hang out with me.”
Mr. Byas guest-starred on the hit CBS TV series “Blue Bloods” and co-starred on NBC’s show, “The Blacklist.” He is also co-starring in an upcoming Spike Lee executive-produced feature film, “Touched With Fire (Mania Days).”
“My character’s name (in ‘Blue Bloods’) was Jeffrey Starks,” he said. “It was the second episode of the sixth season.”
He said he played the role of a college-educated ex-convict who wanted to live a positive lifestyle but his past kept creeping up on him.
“My role on ‘The Blacklist’ was as a co-star as an FBI agent,” he said. “Even though my part got cut down a lot, it was cool to actually be on the premiere of Season 3 of ‘The Blacklist.’”
He said the supporting cast was fun and awesome to work with.
“I felt the same way about ‘The Blacklist’ and enjoyed how I got to wear a swat agent uniform breaking down doors and stuff,” he said.
Both shows aired during the same week.
“I auditioned for ‘Blue Bloods’ about two months ago and we filmed it about one week after I auditioned,” he said. “I auditioned for ‘Blue Bloods’ around the same week as ‘The Blacklist’ and had booked that role as well.”
Mr. Byas describes himself as an actor, producer, director, writer and vlogger.
“I got into acting during my seventh grade year in junior high school, IS 151, which is in the South Bronx,” he said. “There was this actor who was in ‘Terminator 2 T1000,’ who came to my school and spoke to us about his role in the film. Immediately, I knew that I wanted to act and figured out how I can do it so I started to work at it during my high school days at Hightstown High School.”
He said, “It’s cool to follow your dreams and to never give up on that feeling that you feel so passionate about because it does come true.”
His vlogs at YouTube.com/PatrickByas show his life as an upcoming actor and filmmaker as well as the “dirty truth on what I go through trying to make it on TV and films along with my family and daily life.”
“I show me filming on the sets of TV shows and posted two videos a week about my journey,” he said.
For more of his journey, follow Patrick Byas on Instagram or Twitter@PatrickByas or check out Facebook.com/Mr.PatByas or www.PatrickByas.com.
